TTHHEE JJUUNNIIOORR SSTTAATTEE OOFF AAMMEERRIICCAA CCHHAAPPTTEERR BBIINNDDEERR The Complete Guide To Running A Successful JSA Chapter Chapter Binder JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA -- AN OVERVIEW What Makes the Junior State So Unique ........................................................................................ 1 The Structure of The Junior State of America ............................................................................... 1 The Junior Statesmen Foundation ......................................................................................11 Getting Involved in the Junior State Outside of Your Chapter...................................................13 Junior State Activities...................................................................................................................... 16 Teacher/Advisors...............................................................................................................................18 INTRODUCTION TO THE JUNIOR STATE CHAPTER The Junior State Chapter ................................................................................................................. 1 Starting A Junior State Chapter ........................................................................................................ 4 Chapter Planning and Organization..................................................................................................6 CHAPTER MEETINGS Chapter Meetings and Meeting Activities ...................................................................................... 1 At The Chapter Meeting .................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter Meeting Activities ............................................................................................................... 9 PREPARING FOR A JUNIOR STATE CONVENTION What Happens At A Convention ....................................................................................................... 1 Checklist .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Sample Agenda ................................................................................................................................. 10 CHAPTER GUIDES Chapter Publicity ................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter Fundraising .......................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter Membership Drive ............................................................................................................ 15 Chapter Conference ........................................................................................................................ 23 HANDBOOKS Debate Handbook Moderator Handbook FORMS AND HANDOUTS What is JSA? Chapter Leadership Form Tax Form Permission Form Delegate Letter The Junior State of America -- An Overview What Makes the Junior State So Unique: The Student-Run Aspect of JSA Professor Ernest Andrew Rogers, the and failures. Professor Rogers felt that the best founder of the Junior Statesmen of America, felt way to learn whether our system works is to try that the best way to learn about and develop it yourself and see what works and what does an understanding and appreciation of our not. Democracy must be experienced in order democratic system was to partake in it first hand. to be appreciated and understood. This principle of education through participa- tion is the foundation upon which the Junior Our student leaders are therefore given State of America was built. The Junior State as much freedom as possible to steer the orga- has established its own internal governmental nization in the direction they feel is best. It is structure and elects and appoints students to their sincerest dedication to the organization run every aspect of the organization. This al- and endless work that prevents it from going lows students to gain an understanding, first astray. Every decision made in the Junior State hand, how government really works. is made by someone who is either directly or indirectly entrusted by the members to make There are numerous political organiza- that decision. The success of every aspect of tions for high school students that attempt to the state, from our conventions to our chapter teach young people about government, democ- affairs program, all depends on the wisdom and racy and current events. However, while stu- dedication of these student leaders. dents do play large roles in some of these orga- nizations, the vast majority of them are really Traditionally, the Junior State has found run by adults. The Junior State is distinctly dif- the best possible people to be its leaders -- ferent in this regard. It is the largest student- people with experience, wisdom, leadership run high school nonpartisan political organiza- skills and tremendous dedication. Every mem- tion in the country. Its elected and appointed ber of the Junior State needs to understand that student leaders determine the course of the or- it is up to them to make sure this tradition con- ganization every step of the way. Our student tinues. The Junior State is a democracy; it is up leaders bring about our organization’s successes to the people to ensure its success. The Structure of The Junior State of America The Junior State of America provides ment. The chapter represents local government, high school students with the unique opportu- the region represents county government, the nity to discover democracy at work. Members state resembles state government, and the are given the chance to participate in a govern- group of states together form the national gov- ment created and directed by students, with ernment. There are elected leaders at the chap- minimum adult assistance. This freedom allows ter, region and state levels. Junior State members to understand and ap- preciate American democracy and encourages The chapter is the fundamental unit of future involvement as a politically aware citi- the organization. As a school-sponsored club, zen. each chapter must have at least eight members and a teacher-advisor to assist with administra- The Junior State is organized in four lev- tive tasks and provide educational guidance. els simulating that of the United States govern- The chapter must write a constitution and each A-1 Section A member of the chapter must ratify it. A chapter State chapters, the regions and states would have president is then elected along with any other of- little meaning. The Junior State government fices outlined in the chapter constitution. The handles Chapter Affairs through many different chapter president leads and represents his/her ways including newsletters informing chapters of membership and receives JSA mailings inform- upcoming events, guides to running chapter ac- ing members of regional and state activities. tivities, and workshops on effective chapter lead- The other parts of the Junior State gov- ership and other topics. The regional and state ernment - the regional, state and national - exist governments also provide chapters with people for three main purposes: to educate, to involve whom they can contact for advice and sugges- and to represent the members of the Junior State. tions. This is accomplished primarily through coordinat- ing activities, helping chapters and promoting po- The final task of the Junior State govern- litical understanding. ment is to encourage Junior State members to get involved in politics and government. This is The main task of the other levels of gov- accomplished largely by involving Junior State ernment is the coordination of Junior State activi- members in the causes they feel most passion- ties. The resources of these larger governments ately about and giving them the tools they need to allow them to plan larger and more complex events voice their opinions and be heard. Additionally, than a single chapter could likely do alone. By the Junior State government will at times voice combining members of many different chapters their own opinions to local, state and national gov- in these activities, the diversity of opinions repre- ernment on youth-related or educational issues sented is often greater than at a chapter activity. its constituents feel are important. Another large task of the Junior State gov- We will now discuss the structure of the ernment is helping your chapter. This is known regional, state and national governments in more as “Chapter Affairs”. Chapter Affairs is the most detail. important responsibility of the Junior State gov- ernment. Every elected and appointed Junior State official knows that without strong individual Junior The State The State is the largest division of the Jun- hundred students to nearly two-thousand students ior State. There are currently five different Junior and are held in large first class hotels in cities States: Southern California, Northern California, around the nation. The state government plans Texas, Pacific Northwest and Atlantic. The state and runs virtually every aspect of these tremen- level of government is where many of the programs dous events. the Junior State runs are conducted. Each state drafts, approves and amends its own constitution The state also assumes much of the re- which outlines the structure of the state and the sponsibility for Chapter Affairs. Most states